Nikola Vasilj

Nikola Vasilj (Croatian pronunciation: [nǐkola ʋǎsiʎ]; born 2 December 1995) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for 2. Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Nikola Vasilj
Vasilj with Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 in 2014
Personal information
Full name Nikola Vasilj
Date of birth (1995-12-02) 2 December 1995
Place of birth Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 FC St. Pauli
Number 22
Youth career
HNK Međugorje
2010–2013 Zrinjski Mostar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Zrinjski Mostar 17 (0)
2014–2015 → Igman Konjic (loan) 24 (0)
2015–2016 → Branitelj (loan) 13 (0)
2017–2019 1. FC Nürnberg II 42 (0)
2019–2021 Zorya Luhansk 20 (0)
2021– FC St. Pauli 71 (0)
International career‡
2013–2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 3 (0)
2021– Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 October 2023

Vasilj started his professional career at Zrinjski Mostar, who loaned him to Igman Konjic in 2014 and to Branitelj in 2015. In 2017, he joined 1. FC Nürnberg II. Two years later, he moved to Zorya Luhansk. He signed with FC St. Pauli in 2021.

A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vasilj made his senior international debut in 2021.

Club career

Early career

Vasilj started playing football at a local club, before joining the youth academy of his hometown team Zrinjski Mostar in 2010.[2] He made his professional debut against Željezničar on 10 April 2013 at the age of 17.[3] In July 2014, he was sent on a season-long loan to Igman Konjic.[4] In July 2015, he was loaned to Branitelj until the end of season.[5]

In July 2017, Vasilj signed with German side 1. FC Nürnberg.[6]

In July 2019, he joined Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk.[7]

FC St. Pauli

In May 2021, Vasilj moved to FC St. Pauli on a multi-year deal.[8] He made his official debut for the team on 25 July against Holstein Kiel and kept a clean sheet.[9]

International career

Vasilj was a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team under coach Vlado Jagodić.[10]

In March 2021, he received his first senior call-up, for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Finland and France and a friendly game against Costa Rica.[11] He debuted against Costa Rica on 27 March.[12]

Personal life

Vasilj's father Vladimir was also a goalkeeper, as is his younger brother Filip.[13]

He married his long-time girlfriend Sara in May 2021.[14]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 21 October 2023[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Zrinjski Mostar 2012–13 Bosnian Premier League 10000–100
2013–14 Bosnian Premier League 20100030
2015–16 Bosnian Premier League 40––40
2016–17 Bosnian Premier League 10400050
Total 1705000220
Igman Konjic (loan) 2014–15 First League of FBiH 24010–250
Branitelj (loan) 2015–16 First League of FBiH 130––130
1. FC Nürnberg II 2017–18 Regionalliga Bayern 150––150
2018–19 Regionalliga Bayern 270––270
Total 420––420
Zorya Luhansk 2019–20 Ukrainian Premier League 40000040
2020–21 Ukrainian Premier League 160302[lower-alpha 1]0210
Total 2003020250
FC St. Pauli 2021–22 2. Bundesliga 33000–330
2022–23 2. Bundesliga 28010–290
2023–24 2. Bundesliga 10000–100
Total 71010–720
Career total 1870100201990
  1. appearances in UEFA Europa League

International
As of match played 16 October 2023[16]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
202140
202220
202310
Total70

Honours

Zrinjski Mostar[15]

References
  1. "Nikola Vasilj". fcstpauli.com (in German). Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  2. "Nikola Vasilj: Naravno da imam reprezentativne ambicije a ukrajinska liga jača je nego ljudi misle". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. "Teška povreda Zolotića, Zrinjskom bod na Grbavici". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 10 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  4. "Igman se pojačava". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 19 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  5. "Branitelj počeo sa pripremama, brojni odlasci i dolasci". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 5 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  6. "Nikola Vasilj potpisao za Nürnberg". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. "Bivši golman Zrinjskog karijeru nastavlja u Ukrajini". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 16 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  8. "Nikola Vasilj predstavljen u novom klubu". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  9. "Nikola Vasilj sačuvao svoju mrežu na debiju u Njemačkoj". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 25 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  10. "Ukrajinci potvrdili: Novi golman se priključuje Zmajevima". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 10 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  11. "Ivaylo Petev pozvao 25 igrača za Finsku i Francusku". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  12. "Skromna predstava u Zenici: Zmajevi u kombinovanom sastavu odigrali bez golova sa Kostarikom". scsport.ba (in Bosnian). 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  13. "Vratarska obitelj Vasilj: Filip ponajbolji vratar Prve lige, kuca na vrata mlade reprezentacije". hercegovina.info (in Croatian). 9 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  14. "U Čitluku se oženio golman Zmajeva Nikola Vasilj". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 27 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  15. "N. Vasilj". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  16. "Nikola Vasilj". eu-football.info. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
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